Peter Leyden III, 87, died of natural causes on March 8, 2014, at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. Born in Laconia, New Hampshire, on August 28, 1926, he spent his childhood in Flushing, New York, before attending Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, where he was president of his class, captain of the football team as well as a diver and lacrosse player. He served in the Navy during World War II. After graduating from Colgate University, Pete became a high school history teacher and later principal of Lynbrook High School on Long Island. During retirement in the Shenandoah mountains of Lexington, Virginia, and later in Annapolis, Maryland, he continued to serve as president of his Mount Hermon class, as treasurer for a hospital auxiliary, and as patriarch of his sprawling Leyden clan. A natural-born leader and gregarious man, Pete was loved by scores of people from all walks of life. He will be sorely missed.

Peter's wife of 59 years, Winifred Quinn Leyden, predeceased him. He is survived by his five children (Mary Lehr of Annapolis, Maryland, Peter Martin Leyden of Northfield, Massachusetts, Thomas Leyden of Princeton, New Jersey, Robert Leyden of Bowie, Maryland, and Kathleen Lynch of Temecula, California); their spouses; and 12 grandchildren: Jennifer Sanders, Michael, Robert, John and Jessica Lehr; Peter IV and Daniel Leyden; Taylor Leyden; Christopher Latorre and Eric Leyden; and Kerry and Matthew Lynch.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew by the Bay Church in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 13 at 10:00 a.m. A burial service will take place at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia, on April 5 at 2:00 p.m. A memorial will be held at Lake Winnipesaukee (57 Fullerton Shore) at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 9th.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leyden Awards for musical and athletic excellence at Mount Hermon School, One Lamplighter Way, Mount Hermon, MA 01354.